From 2007 to November 2010, plaintiff Carlos Martinez, a tortilla cook at Tortilleria Santacruz Mexican Food Products’ Escondido factory, did not receive wages for overtime. He also claimed that he did not receive rest and meal period breaks during this time. Martinez sued Tortilleria Santacruz Mexican Food Products’ operator, Tortilleria Santacruz Enterprises Inc., and the owner of the company, Juan Santacruz. He alleged that the defendants failed to pay him appropriate wages for the hours worked and failed to provide him with appropriate break periods in violation of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. The matter proceeded to a bench trial. Martinez claimed that the defendants failed to pay him for overtime, or provide him with appropriate rest and meal period breaks. He also claimed that the defendants failed to provide him with accurate itemized wage statements. Santacruz claimed that Martinez was not authorized to work overtime and that the company did not know the plaintiff was working overtime. Thus, defense counsel argued that because Martinez was not authorized to work overtime, his wage statements were accurate., Martinez sought recovery of $60,245.72 in total damages for his unpaid overtime, rest and meal time period breaks, and civil penalties. Defense counsel argued that Martinez was not authorized to work overtime and was owed zero damages for unpaid wages. Counsel further argued that Martinez was given proper meal and rest period breaks.